Package



July 2, 1935. M. c. USINGER 2,006,725

PACKAGE v Filed June 19, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 I [2/ I ,/a /9 mam 55.- F7 12; 6 /m'z5 C Hack er WM 7 July 2, 1935. M. c. USINGER PACKAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 19, 1953 06% as Casi/gar Patented July 2, 1935 2,006,725 PACKAGE Matthias C. Usinger, Media, Pa, assignor to Fed! eral Container Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 19, 1933, Serial No. 676,423

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a package in the nature of a box particularly designed for the reception of bottles. In its preferred form the improved package is formed of a one part blank of cardboard or similar material which not only maintains the bottles spaced so as to prevent breakage but which also is effectively closed against accidental opening merely by the introduction of closure flaps into their closed positions. Under such conditions while opening is eifectively prevented due to the weight of the contents or shaking thereof, the package may be readily opened by the mere pulling out of the closure flaps.

The improved package further involves the provision of a top closure which may be arranged to form a carrying handle.

The objects of the invention relate particularly to a box of the character indicated and will be apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a blank from which the improved package is formed;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the closed package with a portion thereof broken away to show the arrangement of the interior parts;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the closed package;

Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical sections taken on the respective planes indicated by the lines 4-4 and.

5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the top of the box arranged to provide a handle.

The blank indicated in Fig. 1 which is of generally rectangular form is provided with extended slots and scored lines indicated by dotted lines dividing it into parts as follows, these parts being shown in Fig. 1 so that their positions can be 40 located in the other figures.

The blank comprises end walls 2 and side walls 4. Each end wall 2 has at the bottom thereof two bottom end flaps 6 and outer extensions 8 carried by the free ends of flaps 6 and joined at their free ends, slots 1 being provided as illustrated. The flaps B forming each pair are of equal size and are spaced by the slot which is preferably of a width just slightly greater than double the thickness of the 'pasteboard which is 50 used, which pasteboard is preferably of a laminated character so as to withstand hard usage and adequately protect the contents of the package. For example, it may comprise two outer plies and an intermediate corrugated ply. Cardboard of this character is quite stifi and will not readily bend transversely of the corrugations unless scored lines are provided.

In the blank illustrated, the corrugations run vertically so that the fold lines of the flaps cross them at right angles. Thus the flaps are substantially resistant to bending across their extension.

At the bottom edge of each side 4 is located an inner bottom flap l0 and an outer extension l2. Slits l3 extend inwardly from the free edges of these flaps. The distance between the scored lines defining the flaps I0 is approximately equal to the width of a flap 6 since, as will be noted later, the flap i0 is required to extend over two flaps 6, one associated with each end 2, and each extension I2 is arranged to extend upwardly through the slots 1 between the flaps 6 constituting a pair connected to the same end 2. The slits l3 then interlock with the flaps 8.

At the upper edges of the ends and sides 4 are inner flaps l4 and I8 corresponding to 6 and i0 respectively and being of the same dimensions. Outer extensions l 6 and are connected to these inner flaps but have widths, measured outwardly, substantially less than the flaps 8 and l 2 to which, in a general way, they correspond. Cuts l9 define flaps 2! which aid in forming handles as described below.

The remaining figures will make clear the construction of the box formed from the blank of Fig. 1. The free ends of the outermost end 2 and the outermost side 4 of the blank are connected in any suitable fashion as, for example, by a strip of paper or fabric 22 adhesively secured thereto. The various flaps are then folded as indicated in the figures 'to interengage to provide the closure for the box together with compartments to receive the bottles. The extensions l2 in the finished package engage each other in fiatwise relationship, as most clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, while between them there extend upwardly the extensions 8 subdividing the bottom of the box into six compartments for the reception of the bottoms of bottles. In like manner the extensions 20 together with the downwardly extending extensions 16 form six compartments at the top of the package receiving the necks of the bottles, when the package is closed as illustrated in Figs. 2, 4 and in full lines in Fig. 5. The compartments are maintained by the interlocking of the extensions which prevents their transverse movements.

' Besides the above function of forming compartments for the proper maintenance of the bottles in spaced relationship, the various flaps provide effective closures which are substantially proof against accidental opening due to the weight of the bottles or shaking thereof. As noted above, the material is preferably of a substantially stifi character which will resist flexure except along the scored lines which have been indicated in Fig. 1 between the various flaps as dotted lines. In a box formed of corrugated board this results from the extension of the corrugations as noted above. Reference to Fig. 5 will show that the extensions I! are held in flatwise relationship to each other not only by their own dimensions but by the presence of the upwardly extending flaps 8. The weight of the bottles would, of course, tend to move downwardly the inner flaps ill by direct contact therewith or indirectly through the end flaps 6. For such movement to occur it would be necessary for the flaps Ill to swing about their lines of connection with the sides 4. For this to occur the extensions I! would not only have to be moved against their frictional contacts with the extensions 8 but also would have to be flexed to a substantial extent as indicated in construction lines in Fig. 5. With moderately stiff material .of the character having surface laminations and an intermediate corrugated lamination, arranged as stated, it is practically impossible to move the flaps It to such position so long as bottles will, in the package, maintain the extensions 8 extending upwardly and the extensions have an extent substantially equal to the width of the flaps III as they have in the illustrated construction. In fact, it is found practically impossible when bottles are in the package to pull out the flaps It by hand to open the package.

A similar state of affairs occurs at the top but here the extensions 20 are substantially shorter than the extensions l2 so as to lessen the friction thereon and make it possible to open the box by manual effort directed against the flaps ll. Even with short extensions such as indicated at 20, however, a very substantial effort is necessary to effect opening and it is found practically impossible to open the package merely by turning it upside down and shaking the bottles therein so that they engage the flaps it either directly or through the flaps ll.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a package which not only forms separate compartments for bottles but which is also substantially held in closed position merely by a readily effected interengagement of flaps. The package is designed to form a container for the sale of a half dozen bottles and may, in the household, form a convenient receptacle for the bottles before and after emptying. For example, one or two bottles may be withdrawn and placed in a refrigerator. After use, the empty bottles may be replaced in a box, the top of which canthen be closed. After all of the bottles are empty the box may then be used as a receptacle for their return for the usual rebate. 'In allof these uses the bottles are insured against breakage by their contact and also against accidental falling from the package by the interengaging flaps, as indicated above.

For carrying purposesthe upper closure of the box may be arranged to provide a handle. This is accomplished as illustrated, particularly in Fig. 6 and in construction lines in Fig. 5. The extensions 20 instead of being turned inwardly are turned outwardly in abutting relation and the flaps 2| are bent outwardly as shown. The hand may then be inserted through the openings in the flaps II and the four thicknesses of material provided by the flaps II and extensions 20 may be grasped in the palm of the hand. The flaps 2| not only provide for the opening through which the hand may pass but also aiford a greater thickness of material to produce a more comfortable handle.

While the box has been specifically disclosed as having six compartments, it will be obvious that the dimensions may be such that the flaps I6 and flaps 8 are brought into abutting relationship so that only four compartments are provided. Likewise if either four or six primary compartments are formed by flaps such as 8 and I6 these may be further sub-divided in large boxes to provide a larger number of compartments.

It will be obvious that numerous variations may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof as defined in the following claim.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

A box formed of pasteboard or the like comprising side and end walls and top and bottom closures; the top closure including when the box is closed two end flaps carried by each end wall, an inwardly directed extension carried by the free edge of each end ilap, a pair of side flaps overlapping the end flaps, one of the side flaps being carried by each side wall, and abutting extensions carried by the free edges of the side flaps and extending inwardly between the end flaps and said inwardly directed extensions thereof, the side flaps being additionally provided with openings to provide a handle when the side ex- MATTHIAS C. USINGER. 

